Mercedes Vito E-Cell Vans Cover 650,000km in Testing

Mercedes considers its test of electric Vito E-Cell vans in specific regions of Germany a success. There are 230 Vito E-Cells on German roads with the largest numbers in Berlin and Stuttgart. The test vehicles have covered  650,000km to date.

Mercedes-Benz began testing the Vito E-Cells in Berlin in September 2010 and in Stuttgart in January 2011. They are used for courier, express and package service applications. It has a 60kW electric motor and makes 280Nm of torque. It has a maximum load of 900kg, and the load floor and exterior are unchanged from a standard Vito. It can be charged in six hours from a 400v source

Mercedes-Benz specifically chose Stuttgart and Berlin not just because the cities are Mercedes's headquarters and the nation's capital respectively. Stuttgart is a city with many hills that tests the electric Vito's range in more challenging terrain. Berlin is flat and spread out, which challenges the Vito E-Cell's overall range. 

German power companies Vattenfall in Berlin and EnBW in Stuttgart have begun building charging stations throughout the cities for the electric Vitos to use when not in service. Some of the charging stations specifically prioritize green electricity and wind power for the Vitos.

Drivers praised the electric Vito's steady acceleration and quiet operation but said that the vehicle was sometimes too quiet. Pedestrians sometimes did not hear the van when it was approaching. The trucks have an 80km range, and drivers found that to be satisfactory. Mercedes found that when the vehicles returned from daily work there was often 25% battery capacity remaining. 

Mercedes has produced 2,000 E-Cell vehicles since 2011, and it plans to expand Vito E-Cell tests to other regions of Germany and western Europe.